Nancy I. (Shanahan) Doolittle, 86, long-time resident of Floral Park, died on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at her home with her beloved husband by her side in New Hampshire. She was born in Jamestown, NY on Nov. 9, 1928, the daughter of Dr. Thomas Henry and Irene (Dunn) Shanahan.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of St. Elizabeth and earned her MSN from Yale University School of Nursing. Nancy was a registered nurse at the University of San Francisco Teaching Hospital and also at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
She lived in Floral Park, for many years before moving to New London in 1984. While in NY she was a public health nurse for the Nassau County Dept. of Health for more than 20 years.
Nancy was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Church in New London and a member of the choir. She was constantly furthering her education and always learning. She served on the Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association Medical Advisory Board and was on the ethics and performance improvement committee from 1984-1992.
She was a talented horsewoman and enjoyed knitting and cats. In 1943 she sailed at the national level in the Snipe-class boats. Always giving her time and energy, Nancy was awarded Volunteer of the Year in 1995 at the Governor Volunteer’s Recognition Ceremony. She was also recognized with a volunteer award from Lake Sunapee Homecare and Hospice. Nancy was a 30-year breast cancer survivor.
Members of her family surviving include her husband of 58 years, George Doolittle of New London, NH; four children, Thomas and his wife, Lynne Doolittle of Nashville, TN, Liza and her husband, James Breen of Concord, NH, Katherine Doolittle of Floral Park, and Sally and her husband, Daryl Raskett of Weare, NH; 10 grandchildren, Michael, Trevor, David, Laura, Patrick, Katherine, Daniel, Sarah, Tommy and Andrew; a sister, Beth Stader of Annapolis, MD and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Neville Shanahan.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, Feb. 20, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, in New London, NH with Rev. Robert Biron, pastor, celebrant. Burial will be in West Part Cemetery, New London, NH in the spring.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lake Sunapee Region Visiting Nurse Association Hospice, P.O. Box 2209, New London, NH 03257 or to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 LBJ Freeway Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244. Visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com to sign an online guestbook.
